Attitudes Toward Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy

Toronto, ON - The results of an Angus Reid/Parke-Davis survey of 1,800 Canadian women aged 45 to 64 shows that osteoporosis (41%), heart disease (24%) and breast cancer (18%) are the top long-term health concerns associated with menopause and most women are concerned about developing these health risks even after menopausal symptoms have stopped. However, 73 percent of these Canadian women have made lifestyle changes which include watching their diets/eating more healthy (71%), exercising more (65%), and specifically taking vitamins (41%) and calcium (31%) in order to reduce long-term health risks. These are the findings of an Angus Reid survey conducted between August 8th and August 25th, 2000. The survey is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,800 women between the ages of 45 and 64. With a sample of this size the results are accurate to within +/-2.2% percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been if the entire population of women 45 to 64 had been surveyed. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. The data was statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional distribution reflects the population of women aged 45 to 64.

Almost all women aged 45 to 64 (85%) have experienced some type of menopausal symptom and just under half (45%) feel that their symptoms have had a significant impact on their life

Most women aged 45 to 64 have experienced some type of menopausal symptom. The most frequently mentioned symptoms include hot flashes (69%), night sweats (59%), vaginal dryness (40%) and changes in skin (39%). Interestingly, almost all current (96%) and lapsed HRT users (96%) and the majority of non-HRT users (79%) have experienced menopausal symptoms.

With just under half of these women overall indicating a significant impact from their menopausal symptoms, a higher proportion of current HRT users (60%) versus lapsed (51%) and non-users (38%) experience this feeling. As well, a higher proportion of women in Quebec (58%) indicate feeling more impact from their menopausal symptoms versus the other regions.

Almost two in ten (17%) women have had a negative experience at work or in a social situation and 6 percent of women have had to miss work because of their menopausal symptoms.

73% of women believe hormone replacement therapy can improve the quality of their life

Most women aged 45 to 64 believe that HRT can improve the quality of their life. This was particularly high among the current HRT users (96%) compared to about two-thirds of lapsed and non-users.

But, only 24 percent of women aged 45 to 64 are currently taking HRT. This proportion rises to as high as 38 percent among women aged 55 to 59. Nationally, women in Quebec (26%) and Ontario (25%) have a slightly higher HRT usage then Alberta (24%) and Manitoba (24%) and Saskatchewan (24%). In comparison however, the lowest HRT usage is among women in the Atlantic (21%) and B.C. (18%).

About half of women (51%) do not like the side effects associated with HRT and just over half (56%) are afraid of developing breast cancer while taking HRT, but more than half (57%) believe the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks

Just over a quarter (28%) of current HRT users have experienced side effects, the most frequently mentioned weight gain/bloating (39%), unwanted spotting or bleeding (35%) and breast tenderness (33%). However, almost all of current HRT users (96%) are very or moderately satisfied with their HRT.

Among lapsed HRT users, the experience of side effects was much higher -- weight gain/bloating (55%), unwanted spotting or bleeding (41%) and breast tenderness (41%). Interestingly, unwanted spotting or bleeding was the number one reason given for discontinuation of the HRT (22%). Concern over breast cancer was also mentioned (16%) as a key reason.

Although 56 percent of these women have a fear of developing breast cancer, slightly more than half believe the benefits of HRT outweigh the risks. This was particularly true among current HRT users (96%), however, lapsed and non-HRT users in comparison indicate more skepticism with just under half in each group believing that benefits outweigh risks. Further, current HRT users are less likely than lapsed and non-HRT users to be afraid of developing breast cancer (46% of users versus 58% of lapsed and 59% of non-users).

In comparison to the other regions, women in Quebec tend to have a more positive attitude toward HRT with the majority (83%) believing that HRT can improve their quality of life and almost two-thirds (66%) believing HRT benefits outweigh the risks. Fewer women in Quebec (44%) overall indicate a dislike of HRT side effects and in comparison to other regions, are less likely to be afraid of developing breast cancer from HRT (47%). Interestingly, women in B.C. (66%) were more likely overall to be afraid of developing breast cancer.

Only 3 in 10 (31%) women have top of mind awareness of HRT as an option for long-term prevention of health risks.

Women were more likely to mention vitamins (44%) and calcium (31%) for the long-term prevention of health risks over HRT. However, when asked to name supplements or medications to help reduce menopausal symptoms, HRT was the number one answer by just under half of these women (47%).

Current HRT users had the highest top of mind awareness of both long-term (62%) and short-term benefits (70%) of HRT. While over half of the lapsed (54%) and a third (36%) of non-HRT users had top of mind awareness of HRT for menopausal symptom relief, only about a fifth of each group mentioned HRT for long-term prevention. Across the regions, women in Ontario were slightly more likely to mention HRT as a long-term prevention (38%) and short-term symptom relief (54%) in comparison to the other regions.

Only a small proportion of women (9%), mentioned top of mind the benefit of HRT on insomnia (15%) feeling better, younger (9%), prevention of Alzheimer's (1%) and memory loss (1%).

Interestingly, there was no top of mind awareness among women that HRT would provide benefits in terms of their sexuality (i.e. desire/libido). However, when read the statement "HRT helps to increase sexual desire and comfort during sex", just over half overall (56%) agreed.

Just under a quarter (23%) of women not currently taking HRT intend to take hormone replacement therapy in the future

Future use of HRT was highest among current non-users in Quebec (30%) and lowest among women in B.C. (20%) and the Atlantic (17%). Not surprisingly, women between 45 and 49 (33%) and between 50 and 54 (27%) were more likely overall to take HRT in the future.

The key reasons given for their future HRT use included symptomatic relief (50%), long-term prevention (43%) and because their doctor suggested they take HRT (14%). However, almost 2 in 10 (17%) women intend to take HRT in the future "to feel better and stay younger".

About two-thirds (67%) of women not currently taking HRT, however, do not intend to take it in the future. Their key reasons were related to perceived need - "I don't feel I need it, I don't have symptoms", as well as a fear of developing breast/other types of cancer (21%).

But, about a third of current non-users (31%) do not believe that a medication is required for the natural process of menopause. This attitude was more prevalent among women in B.C. who do not intend to take HRT in the future (40%) as well as in Alberta (37%) and Manitoba/Saskatchewan (36%).

Almost all of these women (96%) feel comfortable talking to their physicians about menopause

The majority of women aged 45 to 64 are comfortable discussing menopause with their physicians and most (70%) feel that their physicians provide adequate information about hormone replacement therapy.

Women are just as likely to initiate a discussion about hormone replacement therapy (32%) with their physicians as their physicians are to initiate discussions with them (33%).

However, a third of women (32%) indicated that they have not ever had a discussion about HRT with their physician. This was highest among women who are aged 45 to 49 (56%) who are likely to be pre-menopausal. However, 28 percent of women aged 50 to 54 indicate they have not a discussion about HRT. The number one reason given was simply that they are not experiencing menopausal symptoms and therefore no need to discuss (65%).

55% of women consider their physician to be the number one source of information about HRT and 46% ranked their physician as the most influential in their decision to take HRT

Other frequently mentioned sources of information included magazines (42%), friends and family (27%) and television (17%).

Current non-HRT users were the least likely to mention their physician as a source of information (36%) and more likely to refer to magazines (42%) and family and friends (28%) for information about HRT compared to current users.

Just over a third of women overall (36%) have used the internet to find general information about health risks, while only 10 percent mention the internet as a specific source of HRT information.

Internet use is highest among women in Ontario (42%) and particularly low among women in Quebec (27%) compared to the other regions.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Karen Walker
Vice President
Healthcare
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900